Sustainable Agriculture at the ELI training center in Kipkaren

As I wrote to Noel not too long ago, in the past few days I've learned more about sustainable agriculture here than I have in the past few years. Finally, after waiting and preparing and researching and pursuing and backtracking and persevering for almost 2 years, I'm learning the details of sustainable agriculture. And not just learning, but learning and practicing, applying classroom notes and lessons to the shamba (garden) and the fishpond and the livestock, etc. And tomorrow morning (incidentally also my 25th birthday. grins), I'm getting up before 5am to help Dickson, one of the teachers here, milk the 2 dairy cows on site. Yes, by hand. :) And yes, I know how to milk cows, but have never actually milked one completely, so it really will be a new experience. Some of the classes I'm taking or will soon be taking include (but I know I'll forget a few): soil science, crop science, bio-intensive agriculture, livestock (cows, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits), economics and management, bee-keeping, small-pond fish raising, agricultural extension, home economics (which includes nutrition and how to cook what you're growing so that you can get the maximum benefits and nutrients from the plants), agro-forestry, horticulture, disease and pest control and management (pathology), and here is where my memory fails me. But as you can see, my plate is very full, and I'm loving absolutely ever second of it. The teachers here are arranging a schedule for me so that we can fit 6 months of material into 6 weeks. Intense, but there is so much to learn and I don't want to miss anything.
Aside from classes and application, I'm making friends. Lots and lots of friends. And all Kenyans. They are wonderful, and I already love them. We are learning together, teaching each other, and learning a lot about one another (they all speak English very well, which makes learning Kiswahili a bit more challenging, but they're teaching me that as well). We are already a great encouragement to one another as we not only learn about sustainable agriculture together, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ together. At some point, I'll be sharing some experiences in my own journey of faith. Pray that it touches the hearts of those that God has prepared to receive such messages. And BWANA ASIFIWE! Praise God because even after only 3 1/2 days, he has already done wonders. And soon soon, pictures will be coming, and then you can meet some of my friends and teachers, see where I'm working and learning and what I'm doing, and see some of where I'm living (it's beautiful by the way). :)

With love...